Columbus Blue Jackets sign high-scoring winger Maxime Fortier

The Columbus Blue Jackets added another prospect to the organization earlier in the week with the signing of 19-year-old Maxime Fortier.

Fortier inked a three-year entry level contract with the Columbus Blue Jackets on Friday before his Halifax Mooseheads took on the Gatineau Olympiques, the team that fellow CBJ prospect Vitaly Abramov plays for.

In his 221 games with Halifax, Fortier has recorded 85 goals and 137 assists for 222 points. His play earned him two opportunities to compete in the Montreal Canadiens’ development camp, but neither time was he offered a contract.

Maxime is the current captain of the Mooseheads, and is one of the best scorers in the team’s history, ranking fourth all-time in franchise point totals.

Per the Mooseheads’ press release:

The speedy Captain will stay with the Mooseheads for the rest of this season and is likely to begin his pro career in the American Hockey League with the Cleveland Monsters under Head Coach and former New Jersey Devils forward John Madden next fall.

Most likely, Fortier and Abramov will be playing together in the AHL next season if neither makes the NHL roster. Abramov was one of the final cuts before the 2017-18 season began, and is expected to make a better run at the show next year.

In their Friday matchup against each other, both were named stars of the game. Abramov was the second star, finishing with a goal and two assists as well as winning 60% of his faceoffs. Fortier scored two goals and assisted on another to earn third star honors. Fortier’s Mooseheads were victorious with a 7-5 win.

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Fortier’s ceiling is kind of unknown right now. He went undrafted twice in the NHL Entry Draft, but stuck it out and continued to show his skills in the QMJHL. He’s undoubtedly a talented offensive threat, and more scorers are always welcome with the Blue Jackets.